DUSHANBE, February 10, 2016, Asia-Plus – The trial of 13 leading members and activists of the banned Islamic Revival Party (IRP) began in Dushanbe on February 9.

The trial is being held behind closed doors.

IRP deputy heads Saidumar Husaini and Muhammadali Hayit as well as the party activists Abduqahhor Davlat, Rahmatullo Rajab, Zubaydullo Roziq, Muhammadali Fayzmuhammad, Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, Qiyomiddin Avazov, Zarafo Rahmoni, Mahmadsharif Nabiyev, Abdusamad Ghayratov, Sattor Karimov and Vohidkhon Qosiddinov are standing the trial.

All of them were arrested on September 16 and 17 after completion of the operation against the armed group of Abduhalim Nazarzoda.

In a statement released on September 17, the Prosecutor-General''s Office noted that they are suspected of abetting party leader Kabiri''s plot, saying that they had been arrested “to prevent more terrorist attacks in the country.”

Meanwhile, the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA) has called on the EU, the US and the OSCE to urge Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to create conditions for holding fair and impartial trials.

AHRCA, in particular, notes that the charges against arrested IRP members are largely based on confessions believed to have been obtained under duress. “The prosecutor signed off on the indictment and the case was handed over to court. As the trial will be held behind the closed doors, procedural violations will not be disclosed to the public, and the proceedings are likely to be only formal in nature,” the AHRCA said.

In all, the Tajik authorities have arrested 23 leading members and activists of the IRP, alleging their direct involvement into the September 4 attacks’ masterminding.

According to  RFE/RL’s Tajik Service , the Supreme Court sentenced Hasan Rahimov, the IRP head in Khatlon’s Farkhor district to nine years in prison on November 30.   The sentence followed his conviction on charges of terrorism, religious extremism. Inciting racial and religious enmity and illegally possessing weapons.

The ruling against Hasan Rahimov was reportedly the first sentencing for 23 IRP officials, who have been jailed or placed under investigation since the party was outlawed.

Tajikistan’s Supreme Court banned the Islamic Revival Party as terrorist group on September 29 on the basis of a suit filed by the Prosecutor-General’s Office.  The Supreme Court ruled that the IRP should be included on a blacklist of extremist and terrorist organizations.  The verdict forces the closure of the IRP''s official newspaper  Najot  (Salvation) and bans the distribution of any video, audio, or printed materials related to the party''s activities.